Grain-adjusting apron for harvesters



Patented lune 20, |8559.

W. L. SELLECK. GRAIN ADJUSTING'APRON FDR HARVESTERS.

(Application led Dec. 31, 1897.)

(No Model.)

'` MirenN ,STATES v PATENT OFFICE.

WALLACE L. SELLECK, OF PLATTEVILLE, WISCONSIN.

GRAIN-ADJUSTING APRON FOR HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,274, dated June 20, 1899. Application iiled December 31, 1897. Serial No. 664,944. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WALLACE L. SELLEGK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Platteville, in the county of Grant and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Grain-Adj usting Apron for I-Iarvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved grainadjusting apron for harvesting-machines, and is designed as a substitute for the ordinary carriers or aprons, which act in the capacity of a grain-adjuster and carry the grain in a straight condition to the knotting or binding mechanism of the machine.

To this end the invention primarily contemplates a novel construction of endless apron or carrier having special utility as a grain adjuster for harvesting machines, whereby the butts of grain coming against the metallic plates of the apron or carrier will be straightened u p and carried along, so that they may not lag behind the heads, which, being heavier, tend to move over the binding-deck of the machine more rapidly than the butts.

With this object in View the invention consists in the novel construction, combination,

and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top view of a grain-adjusting apron for harvesters embodying the improvements contemplated by this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the apron from the inner side, showing the relation of the links of the endless chain forming a part of the apron. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of one ofthe solid links of the apron-chain. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of one of the metallic apronplates. Fig. 5 is an end view of one of the plate-supporting strips, showing more clearly the inclined outer face or side for the plate to provide .for disposing the latter obliquely to the line of movement.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numerals l and 2 designate, respectively, oppositely -located sprocket wheels which provide for the support and necessary movement of the grain-adjusting apron forming the subject-matter of the present application. These sprocket-wheels are arranged at the opposite ends of a suitable apron-frame 3,

which is designed to be arranged over the binding-deck of a harvesting-machine to provide for positioning the adjuster in the usual position occupied by the ordinary types of grain-adjusting aprons. Motion may be imparted to either or both of the sprocket-wheels by any of the well-known means; but as the present invention involves no change in the operating means for the apron nor any change from the usual location of the grain-adjusting aprons it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate in the drawings the applied position of the apron, especially since the invention relates solely to the structural features of the apron itself, and which will now` ends, while the links 5 consist of short parallel bars embracing the sides of the solid links 4 and receiving the ends of the pins 6, which are supported in theknuckles of said links 4.

The solid links 4 of the endless apron-chain are provided at their outer sides with enlargements and have formed therein the transverse grooves 7, adapted to receive the straight ribs or strips 8, applied to or forming a part of the apron-plates 9, and the edges of the parts 7 and 8 are oppositely inclined, so asv to interlock, the strips or ribs 8 being adapted to be slipped endwise into the grooves 7.

The apron-plates 9 are of thin material, such as sheet metal, and have the strips 8 secured to their inner faces at a point between their ends, said strips preferably being 0f a dovetailed shape in cross-section, so as to slidably interlock with the grooves in the manner set forth. At one end each of the plates 9 is bent outwardly to form a terminal projection or wing l0, and this terminal projection or wing is preferably provided in its edge with a plurality of notches, which insu res a better engagement with the grain, it being understood that the projections or wings lO of the apron-plates 9 are designed to engage the butt-ends of the stalks of grain and IOO push them along, so that they may not lag behind the heads, which, being heavier, tend to move over the binding-deck of the machine more readily than the butts. In this Way the straws of the grain are straightened and adjusted before being formed into a bundle.

The contiguous end portions of the apronplates 9 overlap, so as to form-a practically continuous surface for the'grain to come in contact with, and thereby insuring a proper straightening up of the straws before the grain is tied into a bundle, and at this point it Will be noted that the outer surface or of each plate support-ing strip 8 is inclined, whereby each plate is caused to lie in a plane oblique to that of the chain or traveling support therefor. This Obliquity of the 'apronl, plates 9 provides for a proper overlapping of the contiguous ends of the plates and at the same time holds-the stalks of grain in the best possible condition for being delivered to the knotting or binding mechanism of the machine. It Will also be observed that the apronplates 9 are stitfened by the projections or Wings 10, flanged up from one end thereof, and the transversely-arranged strips 8 are located near the opposite ends of the plates and secured thereto on their inner faces, so as not to obstruct the outer or active faces, against which the stalks of the grain abut. The said strips 8 extend the entire Width of the plates, so as to stien and strengthen them, thereby supplementing the bracing action of the portions 10, and by reason of the plates being braced transversely in the manner described a single endless apron-chain may be employed and located centrally of the top and bottom edges of the apron proper, which is formed of a continuous series of overlapping apron-plates 9. The central location of the endless apron-chain With respect to the top and bottom edges of the apronplates is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Having thus described the invention,what

is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A grain-adjusting apron for harvestingmachines, comprising an endless chain of pivotally-connected links, certain of which links are provided upon their outer sides with enlargements having transverse grooves there# in, a series of apron-plates having their cona tiguous ends overlappin g and provided at one end With outturned Win gs, and plate-support ing strips having a slidable interlocking en gagement with the transverse grooves of the links, said strips having inclined outer faces bearing against and secured to the apronplates, and also disposing said plates ob liquely to the line of movement, substantially as set forth. Y

2. A grain-adjusting apron for harvestingmachines, comprising an endless apron, con sisting of a series of pivotally-connected and alternately-arranged solid and bar links, the solid links being provided on their outer faces with enlargements having transverse dovetailed grooves formed therein, a series of apron-plates arranged at,the outer side of the chain with their contiguous ends overlapping, and each of said plates being provided at one end with an outturned Wing having a plurality of notches in its edge, and a' transversely-arranged supporting-strip for each plate, said strip having an outer inclined face bearing against and secured to the plate and being of a dovetailed shape in cross-section, so as to slidablyinterlock in the groove of the solid link, said strips and the plates carried thereby being of a greater Width than the endless chain, and projecting above and be- 

